1418 



GUMS 



GUNNERA 



Canada balsam. — A thick, yellow, transparent, liquid 

 oleo-resin obtained in the northern United States and 

 Canada from the balsam fir, Abies balsamea. On 

 account of its great capacity for refracting hght it is 

 used to cement lenses and for mounting objects for 

 the microscope. It is also used in medicine. 



Copaiba balsani. — A thick, transparent, brownish, 

 liquid oleo-resin obtained from several species of 

 leguminous trees belonging to the genus Copaifera and 

 native to northern South America. It is used in medi- 

 cine as an antiseptic and stimulant. 



Elemi. — More or less soft resins yielded by bursera- 

 ceous trees belonging to the genera Protium and Can- 

 arium. Manila elemi from Canarium luzonicum is a 

 fragrant resin used for toughening varnishes. 



Balsam Peru. — A dark brown molasses-Uke liquid 

 balsam obtained in Salvador and Guatemala from the 

 stem of a leguminous tree, Myroxylon Pereirse. It is 

 used in medicine, perfumery and chocolate manufac- 

 ture. 



Slyrax or slorax. — A thick, grayish, sticky, liquid 

 balsam obtained in Asia Minor from the oriental sweet 



Proserpinaca, Hippuris, Myriophyllum. These com- 

 prise small and mostly inconspicuous water- or bog- 

 plants. In the Australian region are the endemic gen- 

 era Loudonia and Meionectes; and there remain Ser- 

 picula, Gurmera, and Haloragis, with very wide and dis- 

 jointed distributions. Gunnera has 25 or more known 

 species in S. Afr., Abyssinia, Java, Tasmania, New 

 Zeal., Hawaii and S. Amer. In general appearance the 

 gunneras are wholly unhke our native haloragaceous 

 plants. The Ivs. are radical, ovate or orbicular, in cer- 

 tain species gigantic: fls. perfect or rarely imperfect 

 monojcious or polygamous, smaU, in simple or branched 

 spikes or panicles, often packed on a great cob-hke 

 spike; petals 2-3, or none; calyx none, or with 2-3 

 lobes; stamens 1 or 2 or 3; ovary 1-loculed, bearing 2 

 fiUform styles: fr. a drupe: plant rhizomatous. 



Gunneras are striking herbs, and with protection the 

 two first species may be grown even in some of our 

 northern states. These two are amongst the noblest 

 of lawn foliage plants. To produce satisfactory effects, 

 rich moist ground is indispensable. The plants must 

 never suffer for want of water. E.xposure to sun is 



1770. Gunnera manicata. 



gum, Liquidambar orientalis. It is used in perfumery, 

 pharmacy and in medicine. 



Common or laurel camphor. — A white, crystalline, 

 pungent substance obtained by distilling with steam 

 the twigs and chips of the camphor tree, Cinnamoinum 

 Camphora, native to China and Japan and cultivated 

 in the southern United States. It is used in medicine 

 and for the manufacture of celluloid, lacquers and 

 smokeless powders. 



Menthol or peppermint camphor. — The principal con- 

 stituent of oil of peppermint, the essential oil of Mentha 

 piperita, from which it can be crystallized by chilling. 

 It resembles common camphor but has a strong pepper- 

 mint odor. Used in medicine and perfumery. 



Frederick L. Lewton. 



GUM-TREE: Eucalyptus and Acacia; also Liquidambar. 



GUNNERA (J. Ernst Gunner, 1718-1773, was a 

 Swedish bishop and botanist, and wrote a local flora). 

 Haloragidacece. Perennial herbs, some of them big- 

 leaved and used for subtropical effects; others small 

 and useful for bogs and rockeries. 



The family Haloragidacese comprises above 100 

 widely scattered and heterogeneous species in 8 genera. 

 In the northeastern states are the aquatic genera, 



advisable, but they should be sheltered from severe 

 winds, else the leaves will be damaged. Ample winter 

 protection should be provided. A hbcral covering 

 of leaves or htter, held in place by brush or branches, 

 will generally keep them from harm. Apply the cover- 

 ing in December and remove early in spring. Propagate 

 by division. Seeds are also employed, and they can 

 usually be secured. 



A. Lvs. very large and striking. 



manicata, Lind. Fig. 1770. St. thick and very short, 

 the titanic crown of lvs. rising from the ground: petioles 

 often as taU as a man, prickly: blades becoming 5-10 

 ft. across, orbicular in general outhne, variously lobed, 

 crenate, furrowed and channeled along the great veins: 

 fls. green: spikes dense and tapering, often more than 1 

 ft. diam. and 3-4 ft. tall. S.Brazil. I.H. 31:531. Gn. 

 45, p. 21; 50, p. 455; .54, p. 385; 59, p. 327; 63, p. 127; 

 70, p. 179; 74, p. 451. G.C. III. 14:589; 29, suppl. 

 Jan. 12. G.M. .54:101, 647. G.F. 8:55.— The crown of 

 lvs. sometimes measures 25-35 ft. across, making a 

 magnificent plant. This is the better species. 



chilensis, Lam. (G. scdbra, Ruiz & Pav.). Not so 

 robust, the lvs. smaller and less spiny, and the fl.-spikes 

 less taU: fls. reddish. R.H. 1862, p. 310; 1894, p. 397 



